Personal Injury Lawyer in Buffalo Grove, Illinois

In Illinois, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. In a wrongful death case, you have two years from the date of death. While these periods may seem like plenty of time, it’s important to file your claim as soon as possible. Failure to file on time could forfeit your ability to recover compensation.

In Illinois, the potential compensation you could be eligible to receive can be broken down into three categories:

• Economic damages: These cover all financial costs, including all medical expenses, lost wages from missing work, property damage, the cost of installing special equipment in your home to deal with your injuries, etc.

• Non-economic damages: These types of damages are often referred to as “pain and suffering” because it attempts to compensate accident victims for the intangible costs of an accident, like physical pain, emotional trauma, and inconvenience.

• Punitive damages: While economic damages and non-economic damages are considered compensatory in nature, punitive damages are intended to penalize the defendant for their behavior and to help prevent similar actions or injuries in the future.

No, Illinois does not have caps on personal injury damages.

The short answer, it's always in your best interest to consult with an attorney before speaking with the insurance company. Insurance adjusters are tasked with looking out for the bottom line of the insurance company.

Insurance companies will often make an offer that’s adequate to cover your initial medical bills and lost wages. However, to receive payment, you will have to sign a waiver that will prevent you from recovering further damages if your condition worsens or your recovery takes longer than you anticipate. At the Law Office of Jack M. Shapiro, P.C., I will help you review any settlement offers from the insurance company before accepting a settlement offer.